The Problem
In December 2021, the Distillery District management team contacted Blade Air looking for a solution to improve the indoor air quality in their buildings from the current MERV-13 filters they were running. Searching for a solution, the Distillery District’s main concern was around the prohibitive costs of installing and maintaining a HEPA or UV solution, both of which are incredibly energy intensive. Instead, they were looking for a solution that would be able to find a balance between their desire to continuously reduce their carbon footprint while also creating a healthier workspace for their tenants.
The Solution: Blade’s IAQ Technology
The solution was the implementation of Blade Air’s electrostatic polarized filters (ESF). These filters utilize active polarization fields to outperform HEPA in their capture efficiency of particulate matter in the viral range. Each filter has close to a 90% lower static pressure than HEPA and over 70% lower than the MERV-13s that had been installed. In addition to outperforming the capture efficiencies of HEPA, like UV, these filters are also able to inactivate viruses. The significantly lower static pressure of the units and minimal amounts of electricity required to power the solution offer significant energy savings.
The Trial
With the technology selected, Blade Air and the Distillery District agreed to a trial where the solution would be implemented across two buildings- the Stone Building and the private school on-site, Voice Integrative School.
The following two tests were facilitated:
- Energy Savings
- Indoor Air Quality Monitoring
The test was agreed to be completed on the second floor of the Stone Building, in offices that were at full capacity. The trials took place throughout a 70-day window, starting ten days before installation and finishing 60 days after.
Energy Savings Trial Highlights
Project Period: July 27, 2022 – August 16, 2022
- Blade Air electrostatic filters measured a 29.8% increase in airflow compared to the prior MERV-13s before rebalancing back to the original airflow speed measured.
- After rebalancing the airflow, Blade Air electrostatic filters created a 75% reduction in energy consumption.
Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Trial Highlights
Project Period: July 11, 2022 – September 26, 2022
- Blade Air electrostatic filters perform 2.25x better than the standard MERV-13 filter in dispersing live bacteria in the indoor environment.
- Blade Air electrostatic filters will more than likely destroy contaminants of submicron sizes, such as viruses, during their passage.
- Blade Air electrostatic filters perform equally to a MERV-13 filter in managing the dispersion of living mould spores in the indoor environment.
What are the benefits of this project?
1. Significant Energy Savings: Save up to 75% of energy consumption by reducing the strain on your HVAC system.
2. Reduced Maintenance Costs: See up to 35% in energy cost savings post-installation due to less maintenance.
3. Enhanced Indoor Air Quality: Improve filtration performance by 2.25x and reduce airborne transmission.
4. Improved Cognitive Function for Staff, Students, and Clients: Enhancing IAQ positively correlates to improved cognitive function and productivity levels.
Continue reading the case study here.
